State accuses Tammy Moorer defense team of violating gag order

HORRY COUNTY, SC (WMBF) - The defense team for the woman charged with kidnapping and murdering Heather Elvis has been accused of violating the gag order in the case.

“In preparing this responsive memorandum, the State discovered the counsel for Defendant violated Judge John's Order by making extrajudicial statements about this case on at least three occasions,” states a memorandum filed by prosecutors.

In the motion, the solicitor argued that Tammy Moorer's defense had already violated the gag order, in form of emailed newsletters and comments to the media about the case and defendant.

Horry County Solicitor Jimmy Richardson asked the judge to uphold the order:

It cannot be seriously questioned that prior to Judge John entering the Order in question, there was a reasonable likelihood that prejudicial pretrial news would prevent the Defendant from receiving a fair trial. This case contains the necessary ingredients for public intrigue, as it involves murder, sex and the mysterious disappearance of a young girl. This case has been covered extensively by local, State and national media, and it has been covered prominently in a number of different mediums, including, but not limited to, newspapers, television, and the internet.

The State said, “Human experience teaches us that the public has an insatiable appetite for cases such as the one sub judice, involving the mysterious disappearance of a young woman.”

Defense attorneys said the Judge felt he didn't have jurisdiction to address the gag order, since an Horry County judge originally signed the order last March.

In a response to the gag order signed in March, defense attorneys said "since it is clearly not in the best interest of Tammy Moorer, the defense cannot consent to enter into such an order."

The defense mentioned the archives of online information surrounding the case, including more than 90,000 Facebook or news website followers. "Media companies and news companies not only respond to such comments, they actively encourage and promote comments," the defense stated.

To stop this conduct in a case with 90,000 Facebook or news website followers is unrealistic and untenable, said the defense.

To view the motion filed by the defense, download the PDF. Warning: Mobile users, the file is large.

Our efforts to reach defense attorneys Wednesday were unsuccessful.

The murder trial against husband and wife Tammy and Sidney Moorer is scheduled for May.

Two suspects are wanted this week. Authorities say one is charged with assault and battery the other had an ad for a place for rent on Craigslist but wouldn't let the tenant move in. Authorities hope you can help find them.

Two suspects are wanted this week. Authorities say one is charged with assault and battery the other had an ad for a place for rent on Craigslist but wouldn't let the tenant move in. Authorities hope you can help find them.

May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month, meaning ticks are out in full force. Local veterinarians say the number of Lyme disease cases in Horry County has doubled since 2014. Warmer weather calls for outdoor activities with your loved ones, including your pets. Vets say it's important for everyone to perform daily tick checks on yourselves and especially your pets. This season, tick sightings are already soaring.

May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month, meaning ticks are out in full force. Local veterinarians say the number of Lyme disease cases in Horry County has doubled since 2014. Warmer weather calls for outdoor activities with your loved ones, including your pets. Vets say it's important for everyone to perform daily tick checks on yourselves and especially your pets. This season, tick sightings are already soaring.

(Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File). FILE - In this May 22, 2018 file photo, actor Morgan Freeman attends the 2018 PEN Literary Gala in New York. Freeman is apologizing to anyone who may have felt “uncomfortable or disrespected” by his behavior....

Actor Morgan Freeman has apologized for making anyone feel uneasy, in the wake of a CNN report in which multiple women accused him of sexual harassment or inappropriate behavior.More >>

Actor Morgan Freeman has apologized for making anyone feel uneasy, in the wake of a CNN report in which multiple women accused him of sexual harassment or inappropriate behavior.More >>

The passenger jet was headed from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, when it was was blown out of the sky over eastern Ukraine on July 17, 2014. All 298 passengers and crew were killed. (Source: CNN)

An international team of investigators say that detailed analysis of video images has established that the Buk missile that brought down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 nearly four years ago came from a Russia-based...

An international team of investigators say that detailed analysis of video images has established that the Buk missile that brought down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 nearly four years ago came from a Russia-based military unit.